Let us stop retrenchments, urges Iyambo

“I HATE retrenchments.”These harsh words came from Minister Abraham Iyambo of Fisheries and Marine Resources at Walvis Bay on Thursday when he gave the fishing industry a public scolding for the second time within a month.

Speaking at the opening of a new factory at Corvima Fishing, Iyambo repeatedly digressed from his prepared speech to comment on the current difficult times in the industry, and especially how companies and trade unions were handling it. Referring to a series of liquidations, strikes, lock-outs and retrenchments in the industry so far this year, the Minister said “too much damage had been done.Enough is enough.Let us stop the retrenchments and rethink.”Looking at the Corvima employees standing at the back of the invited guests at the ceremony, Iyambo said the current labour situation had been painful for him.”It is eating me up inside.””For the sake of the country and the workers, I strongly appeal to the leadership to rethink their strategies and how they deal with labour issues.I appeal for responsibility.”The Minister lashed out at companies who use restructuring as a guise to retrench.He repeatedly stated it was a painful process for the workers, and that their welfare should top the lists of management concerns.”Walvis Bay is affected, peace is affected, businesses are affected, banks are affected, NamPort, Councils, all of us are affected by retrenchments,” said an emphatic Iyambo, who no longer looked like he was in a “terribly good mood”, as he had professed at the start of his address.He said the current trend in labour relations was destroying the industry, Walvis Bay and the country, “as well as the respect we deserve as a country.You have to think of the bigger picture.This is all too painful.”The Minister again slipped into his headmaster style, as he had done on April 13 when he announced relief measures to the industry, to inform representatives of the industry that he knew exactly who had said what in reaction to his relief measures.”I know many of you were very angry.It is good to speak your mind.I know there is a lot of gossip, but the important thing is that we find solutions.We have to continue discussions.”The Minister also had harsh words for those who had been complaining about “too many foreigners in the industry”.He said foreign investment was not illegal in the country, and was in fact invited.In defence of foreigners, and the joint venture Corvima has made with a Spanish multi-national group, Iyambo said.”Don’t feel guilty for being a foreigner, feel happy for being an investor.”Turning to Namibians, Iyambo said many had been empowered in the fishing industry, “but you have sold out – you decided to sell your fishing rights on the side.”The last point Iyambo expressed his dismay with was the failure of some members of the industry to ensure their vessels were seaworthy.”I continue to get alarming reports that some fishing vessels are in a very bad state and that occupants sometimes find themselves having to bail out water from the vessels.”He said an inspection of all vessels would start soon to address the problem.Referring to a series of liquidations, strikes, lock-outs and retrenchments in the industry so far this year, the Minister said “too much damage had been done.Enough is enough.Let us stop the retrenchments and rethink.”Looking at the Corvima employees standing at the back of the invited guests at the ceremony, Iyambo said the current labour situation had been painful for him.”It is eating me up inside.””For the sake of the country and the workers, I strongly appeal to the leadership to rethink their strategies and how they deal with labour issues.I appeal for responsibility.”The Minister lashed out at companies who use restructuring as a guise to retrench.He repeatedly stated it was a painful process for the workers, and that their welfare should top the lists of management concerns.”Walvis Bay is affected, peace is affected, businesses are affected, banks are affected, NamPort, Councils, all of us are affected by retrenchments,” said an emphatic Iyambo, who no longer looked like he was in a “terribly good mood”, as he had professed at the start of his address.He said the current trend in labour relations was destroying the industry, Walvis Bay and the country, “as well as the respect we deserve as a country.You have to think of the bigger picture.This is all too painful.”The Minister again slipped into his headmaster style, as he had done on April 13 when he announced relief measures to the industry, to inform representatives of the industry that he knew exactly who had said what in reaction to his relief measures.”I know many of you were very angry.It is good to speak your mind.I know there is a lot of gossip, but the important thing is that we find solutions.We have to continue discussions.”The Minister also had harsh words for those who had been complaining about “too many foreigners in the industry”.He said foreign investment was not illegal in the country, and was in fact invited.In defence of foreigners, and the joint venture Corvima has made with a Spanish multi-national group, Iyambo said.”Don’t feel guilty for being a foreigner, feel happy for being an investor.”Turning to Namibians, Iyambo said many had been empowered in the fishing industry, “but you have sold out – you decided to sell your fishing rights on the side.”The last point Iyambo expressed his dismay with was the failure of some members of the industry to ensure their vessels were seaworthy.”I continue to get alarming reports that some fishing vessels are in a very bad state and that occupants sometimes find themselves having to bail out water from the vessels.”He said an inspection of all vessels would start soon to address the problem.